Valved lubrication nozzle



April 29 1952 c. c. s. LE CLAIR 2,595,211

' VALVEDLUBRIGATION NozzLE Alun.;

Inventor @Ml/af (24.9! ko/#Have [i C24/.e

Attorneys April 29, 1952 c@ C. s. LE CLAIR VALVED` LUBRICATION NoZzLE:

v 4 vsheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.- 12, 194'?Y Inventor M Q@ A Homey S.

April 29, 1952 c. c. s. LE cLAlR vALvED LUBRICATION NozzLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1947 Filed Feb. 12, 1947 Ap 29, 1952` CC. s. LE CLAIR 12,595,211

vALvED LUBRICATION NozzLE .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A ltorneyS,

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 VALVED LUBRICATION NOZZLE Camille Clare Sprankling Le Clair, London, England, assignor to Tecalemit Limited, Brentford, England, a corporation of Great Britain Application February 12, 1947, Serial No. 728,083 In Great Britain February 20, 1946 This invention relates to a valved lubrication nozzle of the kind in which lubricantA is discharged at high pressure by means of a grease gun or other high-pressure lubricant-discharging Idevice into a nipple or lubricant-receiving device Whichis usually attached permanently to the part to be lubricated. The invention also relates to lubrication systems in which the grease gun or equivalent is provided with, or is vconnected to, a nozzle which is provided with jaws or other device whereby the nozzle may be detachably applied or attached by direct thrust, or by pull-on, push-on or lateral or other method of engagement to the nipple, whichlatter may be formed with a flange or head or other means adapted to be engaged by the jaws or other device of the nozzle body.

The invention thus relates for example to lubrication systems in which the nozzle is adapted to form a lubricant-tight joint with the nipple by thrust applied to the nozzle, or in which the nozzle comprises a number of movable f jaws which when operated manually, mechanically, or by the pressure of the lubricant forced into the nozzle by the grease gun or equivalent, are adapted to form a detachable connection with the nipple, or inwhich the nozzle is provided with fixed jaws in the form of a channel adapted to form a detachable connection with a Yflange on the nipple.

More specifically, this invention relates to 1ubrication systems as described in the specication. of my co-pending application Serial No. 728,082, led February 12, 1947, and entitled'Lubrication Systems, which provides nipples orv lubricant-receiving devices (hereinafter vcalled nipples) which are so constructed that dirt cannot collect in the inlets to the lubricant passages and which thereby overcome the disadvantages of known nipples in which, whether or not they are provided with non-return valves, the inlets of the said passages form lodgements in which dirt can collect.

As described in the said specication, the inlet en'd of the lubricant passagein the nipple is provided with a closure member or teat, which is made of flexible lubricant-impervious material and is formed with a passage of small size, the arrangement being such that either due to the mannerrin which the closure member or teat is mounted inthe nipple and (or) the manner in which the passage through the material is formed the lubricant passage in the closure member or teat is normally closed, but can be opened to allow lubricant to be forced through it under 4 Claims. (Cl. 284-17) pressureimposed upon the lubricant by a grease gun or equivalent device. The closure member or teat thus not only acts to prevent the access of dirt to the interior of the nipple, but also, as will be explained later, may also act as a nonreturn valve to prevent the back flow and escape of lubricant when the pressure of the latter is relieved and the nozzle of the gun removed.

The object of the present invention is to provide vnozzles for use with nipples as briefly described above, such a nozzle, which mayY form part of, or may be attached directly or indirectly to, a grease gun or equivalent, being provided with a hollow body, a lubricant inlet conduit through which lubricant from a grease gun or equivalent is forced into the body under pressure, a hollow conduit means which is either slidable in the body or is xed thereto or integral therewith and which is adapted to be forced into and open the inlet end of the lubricant passage in the said closure member or teat and thus allow lubricant from the hollow body to be injected through the said passage into the lubricant passage in the nipple and thence to the place of use.

The said hollow conduit means may form part ofa piston assembly which is slidably arranged in the said hollow body and it may include a needle-like stem which is adapted to be forced forwards towards the nipple into the lubricant passage in the closure member or teat by the pressure of the lubricant acting upon the piston assembly. The said piston assembly is springurged rearwardly in the said hollow body so as to urge the said needle-like stem away from the nipple when the piston assembly is not acted upon by the lubricant pressure.

The nozzle may be formed with fixed nippleengaging jaws which are adapted to engage below and around a circular ange formed at the outer end of the nipple head so as to provide a detachable connection between the nozzle and nipple and hold the nipple and nozzle in correct axial alignment. On the other hand the nozzle may be provided with movable nipple-engaging jaws which, under the pressure of the lubricant forced into the nozzle hollow body, are adapted to grip a part of the nipple head so as to provide a detachable connection between the nozzle and nipple. The jaws may also act to hold the nipple and nozzle in correct axial alignment.

In one construction of this type the said pis- Yton assembly and its needle-like stem are slidable in an inner body part which is xed in the said hollow body of the nozzle and communi- 3 cates with the interior of the hollow body and has an apertured and recessed bottom end or base which is adapted to t upon and around the outer face of the nipple so as to align the nipple with the nozzle in such a way that the needle-like stem may be forced by the pressure of the lubricant in the inner body part into the lubricant passage in the said closure member or teat. The nozzle comprises an outer piston assembly which is slidable in an annular space in the hollow body between the inner body part and the inner wall of the hollow body and which carries nipple-engaging jaws adapted, under the pressure of the lubricant in the hollow body acting upon the outer piston assembly and by cooperation with an abutment on the hollow body, vto grip a part of the nipple head, the outer piston assembly being acted upon by spring means which, when the outer piston assembly is relieved of lubricantpressure, acts to allow the said jaws to be released rom engagement with the said part' of the nipple head.

In Van alternative construction, the said piston assembly and its needle-like stem are slidable in an inner body part which is slidable in the said hollow body of the nozzle and communicates with the interior of the hollow body and has an apertured bottom end or base which is pressed against the outer face of the nipple head under pressure of the'lubricant in the hollow bodyiand through an opening in which the needle-like stem is forced into the lubricant passage in the said closure member or teat by the pressure of lubricant in the inner body part. The nippleengaging jaws, which are adapted to provide a detachable connection between the nozzle and nipple, are carried by the said inner body part and, under the lubricant pressure acting upon the latter and by cooperation with an abutment on the hollow body, are adapted to grip a part of the nipple head and align it with the nozzle, the inner bodyV part being acted upon by spring means which, when the pressure of the lubricant in the nozzle hollow body is relieved, acts to allow the jaws to be released from engagement with the said part of the nipple head.

In a further construction, thel nozzle comprises a hollow body adapted to be `connected to the outlet conduit of a grease gun or equivalent,

a hollow conduit means which is attached to, or y forms part of, the hollow body and includes a needle-like stem which, under 'manual pressure applied to the nozzle, is forcedinto, and opens, the said lubricant passage in the closure member or teat and thus allows lubricant to be injected through the said passage into the lubricant passage in the nipple and thence to the place of use, guiding means being provided to ensure alignment of the nozzle and nipple,

An alternative form of nozzle comprises nippleengaging jaws which are carried by the .hollow body and are adapted to grip around a flange or part of the nipple head, and manually-operated or vmechanically-operated means for locking the jaws in their gripped position around the said flange or part.

Various constructional forms of the nozzle andralso of nipples with which the nozzles are adapted to be used will now'be described and in these descriptions it will be assumed that the nipple and nozzle are both arranged in a vertical position, with the nozzle uppermost delivering downwards into the nipple. On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a nozzle and nipple combination. the nozzle being engaged in its working position on the iianged head of a nipple. In this gure, the nozzle is of the type which comprises hooking jaws for engagement upon and around the flanged head of the nipple and in which the needle-like stem which engages in the lubricant passage in the teat is carried by a grease-operated piston slidable in the nozzle body;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a second nozzle and nipple combination, the nozzle being engaged in its working position on the head of the nipple. In this figure, the nozzle comprises nipple-engaging .jaws which are adapted to engage with a part-spherical portion of the nipple head, the jaws being carried by an outer piston assembly which is slidable in the annular space between outer'and inner body parts of the nozzle;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a third nozzle and nipple combination, the nozzle being engaged in its working position on the head of the nipple. In this figure, the nozzle comprises an outer piston assembly which is .formed upon an inner body part of the nozzle and is slidable in the outer body part of the nozzle and which also carries nipple-engaging jaws adapted to engage the circular head or flange of a nipple of the type shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modied form of nipple which comprises a head formed with a number of annular grooves or serrations with which corresponding projections formed on the locking jaws of a nozzle of the type described withreference to Figure 3 are adapted to engage;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a fourth nozzle and nipple combination, in which the nozzle is of the type shown in Figure 3, but diiers therefrom in that its locking jaws are formed with projections adapted to engage in the annular grooves or serrations formed in the head of the modied nipple shown in the figure;

Figure 6 isa sectional view of a fifth nozzle and nipple combination.v The nozzle shown in this gure is not adapted to be attached or gripped to the nipple and part of the head of the 'A latter is shaped to provide a, guide for a springurged sleeve which is slidable upon the nozzle body andis adapted to ensure that the needlelike stem of the nozzle is in correct alignment with the lubricant passage in the nipple teat;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are all sectional views showing how nipples as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and 5, may be used with nozzles as shown in Figure 6 Figures 10 to 13 are sectional views of modiied forms'of teats for use in nipple heads;

Figure 14 is a half-sectional view'of a nozzle and nipple combination in which the nozzle is provided with manually operated nipple-engaging jaws; and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the nozzle and nipple combination shown in Figure 14.

Referring rst to Figure '1: l

In this constructional form of the invention, the nipple comprises a shank I, which is threaded or votherwise formed for attachment to the place of use of the lubricant, an enlarged intermediate or Spanner-engaging part 2, and a circular flange 3 which is separated from the intermediate or Spanner-engaging part by an annular recess 4, which thus provides a neck between the latter and the Iiange 3 around which the jaws of the nozzle may be engaged as described hereinaftert The nipple is provided with an axial grease outlet passage 5 which extends from the bottom end of the shank to a position spaced slightly above the lower ilat face of the Spanner-engaging part!` 2. of the nipple where it joins a coaxial enlarged bore 6.` The upper end of the latter is counterboied so as to provide a shoulder 1 spaced from' the upper face of the flange and'a tapered side wall 8 which is inclined outwardly from the flat top face of the nipple flange downwardly to the shoulder. The shoulder 1 and the tapered wall thus form a'tapered housing for the head 9 of Va rubber or like teat, which at its opposite end is formed with a tapered or pointed shank I0 projecting downwards into the enlarged `bore 6 when the teat is in position in the nipple. The teat is formed with a straight-through pierced axial passage II `normally of no measurable diameter.

The head 9 of the teat is larger in diameter than the upper and smaller end of ther tapered housing, but smaller than the larger and lower end thereof,` but being made of rubber or like material it can be distorted suiciently to allow it to be forced into place without damage toitself. Once in place it will be rmly held in position by the tapered form of the housing.'

In a modification the enlarged bore 6 in the upper part of the nipple may, as shown in broken lines, extend right down through the attachment shank I, -if the latter is large enough to'permit of it. y

One constructional form of nozzle foruse with the nipple `is also shown in Fig. 1. It comprises a hollowrbody I2, which is integral with, or attached to, a hollow shank I3, the latter being integral with, or adapted to be attachedV to,'the grease outlet conduit of the grease gun or equivalent (not shown). The bottom or nipple engaging end of the nozzle is formed with a recess of known form of T-section comprising astraight portion which extends from the side of the nozzle body nearest to the grease gun or equivalent to the centre of the body where it connects with a semi-circular portion which is spaced from the opposite side of the nozzle body. In known manner, this arrangement provides two jaws I5, be-v tween which the nipplegneck can be slidably engaged, and a channel I4 above the jaws adapted to receive the nipple flange 3. Y

The bore I6 of the nozzle body extends from the upper face of the body to a position'short of the channel I4, so that the body is provided with a base I1 separating the bore fromthechannel. A small hole I8 is formed centrallyY in the base and provides communication between `the bore I 6"an`d the channel I4. The grease inlet conduit I9 in the'hollow shank I3 of the nozzle body communicates with the-'bore I6 at a position near the upper face of the nozzle body.`

A piston assembly is slidably arranged in the bore of the nozzle body and comprises a central metal body which includes a ilange 2|, a shank 22 which projects upwards from the upper face of the flange and a coaxial needle-like stem 23 which projects downwards Vfrom the lower face of the flange. An axial, straight-throughbore 24 connects the upper end of the shank 223 to' the lowerend of the stem, which latter endfis tapered to form a ne edge surrounding the bore and is adapted to engage andslide in the hole I8 in the base I1 ofthe nozzlebody. The-flange 25 of a cup-shaped, flexible. sealing washer is held between the upper face of the flange of the piston body anda nut 26 which -is screwedv upon/a threaded part of the-shank, Vthe annular sealing lip of the .Washer-.being directed upwards. The

6 piston assembly is constantly urged upwards by a coil spring 21, which reacts between the base I1 of the nozzle body and the flange 2I on the piston body.

The upper end of the bore I6 of the nozzle body is preferably closed by a cover plate 28 arranged in a recess in the nozzle body and held in position by a circlip 29 which is fitted in an annular groove-formed in the nozzle body above the cover plate, and a ilexible sealing ring or disc 3U is used below the cover to elect a pressure-tight joint.

Alternatively, the cover may be attached to the nozzle body by screwing.

The coil spring 21 urges the complete piston assembly upwards and the upward movement is limited by the engagement of the upper end of the shank 22 with ,the cover. The arrangement is such that normally the lower end of the needle stem 23 of the piston body does not project beyond the lower face of the base I1 of the'nozzle body but is eitherA-ilush with it or is disposed slightly above it. The annular sealing lip of the sealing washer is so disposed that it can never mask the inlet, end of the grease conduit I9 in the hollow shank of 'the nozzle body.

In operation, the nipple-engaging jaws I5 of the nozzle body are hooked upon the neck of the nipple and the nipple flange 3 is engaged in the channel I4, the bottom face of the base I1 then engaging with the upper face of the nipple flange. The nozzle is pulled across the nipple until the; nipple flange is fullyengagecl in the semi-circularl end of the channel I 4 in the nozzle body. In this:

- position, the needle-like stem 23 of the piston assembly and the passage I I in the rubber teat are in exact axial alignment. When the grease gun or equivalent is operated, grease under pressure is forced through the conduit I9 in the hollow shank I3 of the nozzle body into the bore I6 of the latter, the piston assembly then being forced downwards against the pressure of the coil spring 21 and the needle end of the piston stem 23 being forced into the end of the passage I I in the rubber teat. This movement of the piston assembly may be limited either by the closing of the coil spring 21 or by a shoulder or other stop (not shown) and as soonfA as the piston assembly has reached the limit of its downward travel further discharge of grease by the grease gun or equivalent will' force grease through the straightthrough passage 24 in the piston body. and the needle stem, thence through the passage I I in the rubber or like teat into thenipple and thence tothe place of use. When the operation of the grease gun or equivalent is discontinued the piston assembly is returned upwards to its original position by the action of the spring 21 and the nozzle can then be removed from the nipple.

In `a second constructional form shown in Figure 2, the nipple comprises a shank 3l adapted for attachment at a place of use of the lubricant, an intermediate or Spanner-engaging part 32, -a head comprising an upper cylindrical part 33 and a lower partly-hemispherical `part 34 of larger diameter. As in the ,l construction described above, the nipple is provided with a teat 35 of flexible,lubricant-impervious material such as rubber or like material formed with a lubricant passagei3ii'. :The teat may be made in lany of the ways referred to above and hereinafter.

This nipple is intended for use with a modied form of nozzle, having movable nipple-engaging jaws operated by the pressure of the lubricant andv which, under the iniluence of that pressure,

move forward, i. e., downwards, and grip ,the partly-hemispherical part 34 of the nipple head.

The nozzle comprises two coaxial cylindrical bodies 31 and 38, the outer body 38 being integral with, or attached to, a hollow shank 39 integral with or adapted to be attached to the discharge shank or duct of a grease gun or equivalent.

The inner cylinder 31 is formed, like Ythe nozzle body of the construction shown in Figure 1, with an apertured base 40 and an open upper end closed by a cover member 4| which is screwed into position. The walls of the cylinder 31` extend below the base, forming a recess 42 which fits over the upper cylindrical part 33 of the nipple, forming a guide for alignment.

Within the inner cylinder'is a piston assembly comprising a anlge 43, a sealing ring 44, an upwardlyprojecting shank 45 and a downwardly projecting needle-like stem 45, allspring-urged upwards away from the nipple engaging end of the nozzle, the assembly being formed with an axial straight-through bore 41.

Between the inner and outer cylinders is an annular space 43 in which are arranged an annular piston 49 and jaws 5U.

The lower end of the outer cylinder is provided with an inwardly turning ilange 5l, and the jaws 5i) are loosely hung from the annular piston .49 so that while relative lateral movement of the jaws is permitted, positive downward movement is enforced when the annular piston moves downwards.

The annular piston with its depending jaws is urged upwards by a spring 52 away from the nipple-engaging end of the nozzle, but the spring exerts a lower pressure per square inch on the annular piston than the spring 53 of the inner piston exerts upon the inner piston. The upper end of the annular space 48 is closed by a cover 54 which, in the preferred embodiment, is screwed into place, and may coveniently be formed integral with, and as a radial extension of, the cover 4l for the inner cylinder 31. A hole or holes 55 through the inner cylinder wall, arranged close under the cover, afford communication between the inner and outer cylinders.

In operation, the nozzle is rst placed in position over the head of the nipple, with the recess 42 within the lower end of the inner cylinder walls registering over the cylindrical part 33 of 4 the nipple. In this position the needle like stem of the inner piston assembly and the passage in the teat are in exact axial alignment. When the grease gun or equivalent is operated, grease under pressure is forced through the duct 56 in the hollow shank of the nozzle body into the bore of the outer cylinder, and also through the hole or holes into the inner cylinder. Since the outer spring 52 exerts a lower pressure upon the outer piston 49 the inner spring 53 exerts upon 'the inner piston it follows that the outer piston. will move rst. As it descends the outer piston forces the depending jaws 50 downwards, andas theyl pass through the inwardly turning ange 5I of the outer cylinder 38 they are also forced inwardly, thus collectively acting as4 a clutch to grip the partly-hemispherical part. 34 of' thenipple head. After this action further discharge of grease by the gun or equivalent results in the inner piston being forced` downwards against the pressure of its spring 53 andinr the needle end of the needle stem 46 being forced into the. end of the passage 36 in the rubber'teat. This. movement' of the piston assembly may be .limited either by the closing of the-inner coil spring, 53

or by a shoulder or other stopY (not shown) and as soon as the piston assembly has reached the limit of its downward travel further discharge of grease by the grease gun or equivalent will force grease through the straight-through passage 41 in the piston body and needle stem, thence through the passage in the rubber teat into the nipple and thence to the place of use.

When the operation of the grease gun or equivalent is discontinued, the inner piston assembly is returned upwards to its original position by the action of the inner spring 53. Thereafter, theouter piston 49 with its depending jaws 50 will also return under the action of its spring 52. As soon as this has taken place the nozzle can be removed from the nipple.

As will be understood from the foregoing' description a nozzle as described with reference to Figure 2 could be used in conjunction with a flanged nipple, as described with reference to Figure 1, the hooked ends of the jaws 50 being shaped to nt around the nipple flange 3.

In a third constructional form of the invention shown in Figure 3, the nipple may be constructed as previously described in connection with the nipple shown in Figure 1, viz., having a shank 51 for attachment to a place of use, an intermed-iate or Spanner' engaging part 58, a neck 59 and a flange 60. The nozzle again comprises two coaxial inner and outer cylinder bodies 6l and 52, the hollow shank 63 of the outer body 62 being integral with, or attached to, the shank or duct-of a grease gun or equivalent. The in'- ner cylinder is formed with a base 64 having a central hole 54A and within the cylinder is a piston. assembly 65, all as'described above.v The upper end of the inner cylinder is provided with a cover member 56, but this is formed with holes 61' so that it does not serve as a closurel for the cylinder, but only acts as a stop member, the shankV 68 of the piston abutting against it, when the piston is in its uppermost position. The nozzle4 is also provided with movable jaws' 69, but. they are loosely attached to the inner cylinder wall instead of to a sliding annular piston as in Figure 2, so that, they have a limited free lateral movement but no endwise movement. relative to the inner cylinder. The lower ends of. the jaws are formed with hooks 10 on their'inner faces, and their outer faces 11| are bevelled for a reason to be explained hereinafter. Leaf` springs 12 are arrangedbetween the jaws and the cylinderin order to spread the jaws to their widest capacity.

Thev inner cylinder ,6IY is slidablyarranged within the outer cylinder (i2,l and it is provided at4 its upper end with a flexible sealing ring 13 which is arranged in the annulus between the" innerA and o uter cylinder walls and is gripped in place between a ila-nge 14 formedY upon the out.- side of the inner cylinder wall andraA flange 15 formed upon Vthe innerrcylindervcover 66'.

At its. lower extremity the outer cylinder wallisformed with an inwardly turning flange, the.l

.Y inner upper edge.16'of which is bevelled for engagement withv the -bevelsll on the movable jaws 69. Between the bevel on theange and the:v outer cylinder wall the upper surface of theilange is;ilat, and' a coil spring 111s arranged between the-flange and the flange-14 on the inner' cylinder; The reaction of the spring 11 urges thevr inner cylinder,v with its depending jaws; upwards in relationY to the outer.` cylinder. This. motion is limited'` by the inner cylinder cover ,65 abutting against aA boss l18' on the outercylin -spread outwards by their springs 72, their hooked ends 'Hl can pass freely over the edge of the nipple flange 60 and the apertured base 64 of the inner cylinder can come into contact with the upper face of the nipple flange. When the grease gun or equivalent is operated, grease under pressure is forced through the duct 63A in thek hollow vided with projections or ridges 81 which engage in grooves or serrations 88 formed in the cylindri- 1 cal body 89 of the nipple 90 when the nozzle is shank 630i the nozzle into the bore of the outer cylinder, and also through the holes61 in the cover 66 of the inner cylinder into thevlatter.

Since the outer spring exertsa lower pressure upon the whole inner cylinder, which acts as a sliding piston, then the inner spring 19 exerts upon the inner piston, it follows that the inner cylinder will move relative to the outer cylinder before the inner piston moves. As the inner cylinder and its jaws move downwards, .or more correctly, as the outer cylinder moves upwards, the bevelled edge 10 of the inwardly turning flange of the outer cylinder engages the bevelled faces 1| of the jaws causing them to close radially inwards not only gripping the nipple flange but also centralising it so that the lubricant passage in the teat is in correct axial alignment with the needle like stem.

When this action is completed further discharge of grease by the gun or equivalent re- 'sults in the inner piston assembly 80 being forced downwards against the pressure of its spring .19 and in the needle end of the piston stem 8| vbeing forced through the hole 64A in the base 64 of the inner cylinder into the end of the passage 82 in the rubber teat 83. This movement of the piston assembly Vmay be limited either by the closing of the inner coiled spring 19, or by a, shoulder or other stop (not shown). As soon as the inner piston assembly has reached the limit of its downward travel further discharge of grease by the grease gun or equivalent will force grease through the straight-through passage 84 in the piston body and needle stem, thence through the passage 82 in the rubber teat into the nipple and thence to the place of use. When the operation of the grease gun or equivalent is discontinued, the inner piston assembly 80 is returned up-` wards to its original position by the action of its spring 19, the inner cylinder 6| with its depending jaws 69 then also returning under the action of the outer spring As soon as this has taken place the jaws will be freed, and will open outwards under the action of their springs l2, thereby freeing the nipple flange 60 and permitting the nozzle to be removed.

The modif-led nipple shown in Figure 4 is not provided with a head in the form of a vsingle flange, as previously described with reference-to Figures 1 and 3, but may have a cylindrical body 85, upon which are formed a number of circular grooves or serrations 86.

As shown in Figure 5, a nozzle for use with this modified type ofnipple may be constructed like that shown in Figure 3 and thus, briefly, may comprise ian outer body 62A provided with a hollow shank 63A, an inner body lAjaninner pisfitted in its working position upon the nipple.

It will be noted that whereas the grooves or serrations in the cylindrical body of the nipple shown in Figurefl are of circular section those in the cylindrical body of the nipple shown in Figure 5 are of V-section. It is to be understood, however, that the grooves or serrations may be any other convenient section.

The body of the nipple may also be of conical instead of cylindrical shape.

It will also` be appreciated that a nozzle as described With reference to Figure 1 could be adapted for use in conjunction with the types of nipple described above with reference to Figures 4 and 5. As in the constructions described above the nipples are provided with teats of flexible, lubricantimpervious material formed with lubricant passages -and made in any of the ways referred to above or hereinafter.

In a fourth constructional form of the invention shown in Figure 6, the nipple comprises a shank 9| adapted for attachment at a place of use of the lubricant, an intermediate or spanner engaging part 92, a lower cylindrical part 93 and an upper cylindrical part 94 of reduced diameter. As in the constructions described above, the nipple is provided with a teat 95 of flexible, lubricant-impervious material formed with a lubricant passage 96, which teat may be made in any of the ways referred to above or hereinafter.

This nipple is intended for use with a modied form of nozzle shown in Figure 6 which is not adapted to be attached or gripped to the nipple during the lubricating operation. 'Ihe nozzle comprises a hollow body 91 integral with, or adapted to be attached to, the grease outlet conduit 98 of the grease gun or vequivalent 99. 'I'he end of the bore of the body 9'! which is adjacent to the nipple when the nozzle is in the working position is tapped to receive the threaded shank |00 of a delivery nozzle which is .also formed with an intermediate flange |0| adapted to abut .against the lower end of the body when the delivery nozzle is screwed into position, and with a projecting needle-like stem |02. An axial bore |03 connects the upper end of the shank |00 with the lower end of the said needle-like stem.

In order not only to serve as a guide but also to protect the needle stem |02 against damage and to protect a useraagainst injury by the stem, aA sleeve |04 is vslidably arranged upon the grease outlet conduit 93 `and is normally pressed downwardly by means of a coil spring |05 surrounding that conduit so that the stem is entirely enclosed in the sleeve.

In order to inject grease into the nipple and thence' to the place of use, the lower end of the ton -assembly A and'springeurgedfjaws'fBS sleeve |04 vis fitted' around the upper cylindrical part94' of the. nipple, which part thus acts in cooperation withthe sleeve'and serves to ensure that the stern |02 and the lubricant passage 96 in f the nipple teat are in correct alignment. Thus, when the grease gun or equivalent is thrust forwards towards the nipple to discharge grease into thenipple, the needle-like stem |02 is-forced into the lubricant passage S0 in the teat until the fla-nge |0| on the delivery nozzle engages`with'the upper cylindrical partl94 of the nipple orwith an. abutmentl inet shown) in the s letiathelatter sliding'backivardsalongthe nutlet "onduit v93 and compressing the' 11 spring |05. When the grease-dischargingoperation is completed and thenozzle is removed from the nipple, the sleeve |04 is forced forwards again by the spring |05.

It will be understood that a nozzleY of the type shown in Figure 6 can alsovbe used in conjunction with nipples of the type shown in Figures l, 2, Il. and 5. This is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 wherein the nipple engaging end of the slidable sleeve |04 of the nozzle vis shown in broken lines tted over the head or flange of the nipple head.

Figure 14 shows by way of example a modif fled nozzle having manually operable jaws. The nipple used with this nozzle may be of either of the types mentioned above which are adapted to be gripped by movable jaws, and the nozzle may be of the same general type as in the third construction described above with reference to Figure 3, wherein the jaws have lateral mover ment but do not advance and recede as in the second construction shown in Figure 2;

r1"hus, the nozzle comprises a cylinderbody |06 with a hollow inlet shank |01 anda hollow bore in which slides a piston assembly comprising a flange it, an upwardly extending shank |09, a sealing ring and holding nut and a downwardly projecting needle stem I|2.

On the outside of the cylinder wall, at or near the nippleengaging end, a number of jaws ||3 are suspended, and above the jaws the wallV is formell with an external thread, upon which an internnlly threaded shell H4 is screwed. The out i of the shell is knurled so that it can be gripp i and rotated by hand, and the lower end c conical at to engage with the bevnds' i i6 of the jaws, so that when the shell ved upwards on the thread the jaws are ially inwards.

in Figure 15, in a modification of construction, the jaws may be h a reversed bevel such that the jaws .nvards by a downward movement of .ed hollow shell H9.

appreciated that the invention is the constructional forms of nipples but is applicable to nipples of shape in which a ilexible, lubriteat can be housed as described. not the nipples are adapted to `be dota: d by nipple-engaging jaws.

As previously stated, in any of the vnipple coniructions the lubricant passage in the teat may by merely piercing the material; that f, without the removal of any substanmaterial as would occur if it or ed with a rotating drill, so that -norpassage will have no measurable dithere will be no exposed aperture or .pace .in the teat in which dirt can collect.

@n the other hand, the lubricant passage in the teat may be drilled, thus removing material, or it may be moulded. Referring to Figures to 13, in either of these cases the passage |36 through the teat will have a measurable diameter and will thus offer a lodgement for dirt. To prevent this the upper part of the head |31 is madefan interference fit in its housing in the nipple, the material of the teat surrounding the passage being thereby forced radially inwards when the teat is fitted in the housing so that the open end |38 of the passage is-Closed, 'and thus'no space for the .collection of dirt. will remain.

- .In the. .cases in whichfthe passagers Adrilledfmoulded. however. .it is prferredthat the drlld.

or moulded teat passage (Figures 10 to 13) shall not pass right through the teat, but shall stop short at, say, threel quarters of the depth ofthe teat, the remainder of the lower tapered shank |39, being formed into two or more flexible lips by a longitudinal slit or slits |40. This slit, or theseslits, may be formed by splitting with a knife, thus removing no material or they may be cut with an exceedingly ne saw or they may bemoulded on similarly fine fins. Even although a narrow space is left between the lips, nevertheless, owing to the tapered shape of the shank of the; teat, any back now of the grease will be stopped by the pressure of the grease causing the tapered sides of the shank of the teat to collapse and the lips to close. The teat therefore acts as a non-return valve, and the inclusion of a ball and spring, or other conventional type of nonreturn valve, in the nipple, becomes unnecessary.

It will also be appreciated that when the needle end of the nozzle piston needle stem enters the closed lubricant passage in the teat there must besoxne lateral displacement of rubber. If the head of the teat is a fit in the correspondingly shaped housing in the nipple there will be no Y contiguous lateral space into which the displaced rubber can go and displacement must take place longitudinally. While this is not impossible, it may cause di'icultyin operation.

In modications, therefore, as shown in Figures 10 vto 1,3, space is provided laterally round the head ofthe teat between the head and the housing in the nipple into which the displaced rubber can readily flow.` rIfhus, the head of the teat may be cylindrical while its housing is conical as shown in FigureV 11, the upper edge of the cone |42l gripping the head to hold it in place, and also distortingl the material radially inwards so that thev open end |38 of the passage is closed.

Again, while the teat head may be cylindrical, its housing may either be ofv larger diameter as shown in FigurelO, or may be barrel shaped, and in either case it may have an upper shoulder |42 whichgrips the upper edge of the head and distorts it radially inwards. The upper edge of the head of the teat may have an annular recess into which the shoulder engages.

As shown in Figure 13, the head of the teat maybe made 'waisted, that is, narrower at the middle than at the ends, and its housing maybe cylindrical, the head of the teat and/or its housing ma-y be formed with circular grooves or serraf. tions for the same purpose, as shown in Figure 12.

As mentioned above in connection with Figure 1, when the operation of the grease gun or equiv alent is discontinued, 'the nozzle piston assembly returns to its original position under the influence ofthe coil spring. This return movement of the piston assembly causes a back flow of grease out of the bore of the nozzle body back through the conduit in the hollow shank of the nozzle towards the grease gun or equivalent. It is therefore -necessary that the outlet conduit ofy the grease gun or equivalent shall not have a nonreturn valve.

'Different types of grease guns or other grease dispensers may be used. The grease gun may, for example, beof the known type in which a plunger overruns and closes an inlet port during its discharge stroke. As soon as the inlet port is overrun and closed, further movement of theplunger discharges lgrease through the conduit in `the 1.1.0..11QW-silanlfr-offthev nozzle into tha-"bore Of the latter, the nozzle vpiston assembly thenbeing 4operated` as previouslyvdescribed, and; somev 13 of the grease being discharged through the nipple to the place of use.

' When the gun plunger makes its return stroke the grease column in the bore of the nozzle body and the said conduit will follow it until the nozzle piston assembly reaches its upper stop. Thereafter, the gun plunger, continuing its return motion, will create a void in the gun barrel, which void, when the inlet port is again uncovered, will be equal in volume to the grease discharged. As soon as the inlet port is uncovered, the gun will be recharged by the inux of new grease. The teat in the nipple, the sealing washer in the nozzle body cover and the sealing rings in the pistons may be made of rubber, synthetic rubber or other mouldable material, or lubricant-impervious flexible material.

The nipple-engaging jaws forming part of the nozzle body in the rst construction shown in Figure 1 may be arranged for push-on attachment or for lateral attachment instead of for hook-on attachment as described above.

The hollow grease inlet shank of the nozzle may be arranged at any desired angle to the axis of the nozzle body. It may also be connected to the latter by means of a hinge joint or a knuckle joint or a universal joint, or it may be connected to the discharge conduit of the grease gun or equivalent by any of such joints.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 4, 5 and 14, it is convenient to form the needle-like stem of the nozzle piston as a separate member adapted to be detachably attached to the piston as by screwing. The same arrangement is shown in Figure 6;

It will be understood that the nipples and nozzles` may be used in systems for dispensing grease or thixotropic solids or oil.

I claim:

1. A nozzle for making detachable fluid tight connection with a headed fluid receiving fitting having a deformable fluid receiving passageway therein, comprising in combination a tubular cylinder forming body member having an apertured contact surface at one end and adapted for cooperative engagement with a fitting, said body member having a -wall at its other end transverse to the longitudinal axis of said body member, means adapted to engage the head of a fitting for detachably connecting said nozzle to the fitting head to hold said contact surface in firm abutting engagement against the fitting, a hollow injector nozzle having an inlet opening at one end and having a needle-like tip at its other end aligned with and of less external diameter than the aperture in said contact surface, a piston slidable in said body member and connected to said injector nozzle for moving the latter, means biasing said injector nozzle to a position wherein said injector inlet opening contacts and is closed by said wall, and an inlet to said tubular body member at said other end and adapted to be connected to a source of uid under pressure for supplying fluid for moving said piston and said injector nozzle against said biasing means to projected position and cause said needle-like tip to project through said aperture and make a fluid tight seal with the fitting passageway for the discharge of fluid into a fitting.

2. A nozzle for making detachable fluid tight connection with a headed iiuid receiving fitting having a deformable fluid receiving passageway therein, comprising in combination a tubular cylinder forming body member having a wall providing an apertured contact surface at one end adapted for cooperative engagement with a tting, said body member having a transverse closure wall at its other end, jaw structure adapted toengage the head of a fitting for detachably connecting said nozzle to the fitting head to hold said contactsurface in firm abutting engagement against the fitting, a hollow injector nozzle having an inlet opening at one end and having av needle-like tip at its other end aligned with and of less external diameter than the aperture in said contact surface, a piston slidable in said cylinder and connected to said injector nozzle for moving the latter longitudinally in said cylinder, a spring reacting between said first named wall and said piston to bias said piston and said injector nozzle to a position wherein said injector inlet opening contacts and is closed by said transverse wall, and an inlet to said tubular body member at the end having said transverse wall and adapted to be connected to a source of uid under pressure for supplying fluid for moving said piston and said injector nozzle against said spring to projected position and cause said needle-like tip to project through said aperture and make a fluid tight seal with a fitting passageway for the discharge of fluid into a fitting.

r3. A nozzle for making detachable uid tight connection with a headed iiuid receiving fitting having a deformable uid receiving passageway therein, comprising in combination a tubular body member having transverse walls at either end, the outer surface of one of said walls forming a substantially flat contact surface adapted to be brought into engagement with a fitting, a central apertureV through said one wall, means for detachably securing said body member to the head of a fitting with said contact surface in firm engagement against the fitting head, a hollow injector nozzle having an inlet opening at one end normally closed by the second of said transverse walls and a needle-like tip at its other end aligned with and of less external diameter than said aperture, a piston slidable in said body member and connected to said injector nozzle for moving the latter, means biasing said piston and said injector nozzle toward said second wall, and an inlet to said tubular body member at its end opposite said apertured wall and adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for supplying fluid for moving said piston and said injector nozzle against the force of said biasing means to projected position and cause said needle-like tip to project through said aperture and make a uid tight seal with a fitting passageway for the discharge of fluid into a fitting.

.4. A nozzle for making detachable fluid tight connection with a headed fluid receiving fitting having a deformable fluid receiving passageway therein, comprising in combination a tubular body member having substantially parallel transverse walls at either end, the outer surface of one of said walls forming a substantially at contact ternal diameter than said aperture, a piston slidable in said body member and connected to said injector nozzle for moving the latter, a spring confined between said piston and said one wall `bias said injector nozzle toward said second wall, and an inlet to said tubular body member at its. end opposite said apertured wall and adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for supplying fluid for moving said piston andsaid injector nozzle against the force of said spring to projected position and cause said needle-like-tip to project throughl said aperture and make a uid tight seal with a tting passageway for the discharge of fluid into a tting.

CAMILLE CLARE SPRANKLING LE CLAIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 16 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ellis Oct. 19, 1926 Crowley May 31, 1932 Lindersl Feb. 13, 1934 Feiler June 9, 1936 Williams July 7, 1936 Gray July '7, 1936 Krannak Feb. 9, 1937 Rogers June 8, 1937 Forsberg Mar. 11, 1941 

